Newborn baby found abandoned in box outside Booragoon medical centre in Perth's south

| 20.03,19. 05:54 PM |

Newborn baby found abandoned in box outside Booragoon medical centre in Perth's south

Photo: The baby boy was found in a box covered in a blanket before police were alerted. (ABC News: Kathryn Diss)

WA Police say a newborn baby boy has been found abandoned outside a medical centre in Perth's southern suburbs.

Staff at a medical centre in Booragoon alerted police about 8:00am after discovering the baby, which is believed had only been left there for about 10 minutes.

The child was less than 24 hours old and was found in a box and covered in a blanket, before being taken by ambulance to Perth Children's Hospital.

Detective Sergeant Dixie Johnson said the boy appeared to have been taken care of before being abandoned, and the mother left a note expressing that she wanted him to be looked after.

She said police had concerns about the mother's welfare, and appealed for her to come forward.

"It appears the baby hasn't been born in a hospital," Sergeant Johnson said.

"That's why we do want to speak to the mother because we've got concerns about the environment the baby was born in, and we really just need her to come forward to make sure she gets her medical attention and her welfare concerns are looked after."

"If she's not comfortable speaking to police, she's more than welcome speaking to the Department of Family Services."

Sergeant Johnson said police would analyse any births on record over the past 24 hours as part of their investigation.